Margherita, Marinara, Regina… Pizza are dishes of quintessence. Straight from Italy, they often persuade everyone! Are you a pizza lover, want to start and open your own pizzeria? Restaurant or van format, we tour the most important points to take into account!
Do you need to be a graduate to open a pizzeria?
It is not mandatory to take pizza maker training before opening your own pizzeria! A university degree is not required for this activity. However, having first-hand professional experience in this field is a plus (or specialized training, if necessary).
Information
The only mandatory training to follow to open your restaurant is HACCP (Chance Analysis Critical Control Point). This is a few hours training related to food hygiene. It is offered to anyone interested in the National Security and Environment Training Center.
We can only recommend you follow additional training to assist you with the opening and daily management of your pizzeria. Optional, however, they allow you to help you with accounting, business management, financial administration or even human resource management.
What are the legal formalities for opening a pizzeria?
SAS, SARL, EURL… How to choose the best position to open your pizzeria? This step should not be taken lightly as any error in your legal position can generate huge administrative and financial consequences.
You have two options to direct you to the best solution:
What are the rules for opening a pizzeria?
The opening of a pizzeria open to the public is subject to various standards. On the security and accessibility side you have to:
- have a risk prevention and detection system;
- Creating accessible spaces for people with disabilities.
Catering is one of those areas where you must be irreplaceable when it comes to hygiene standards. For this you or a member of your team will be asked to complete HACCP training. You also need to respect the preservation and freezing rules of your products and remember to display a visible line of sight list of allergens present in your pizza.
Also, be sure to display your pizza prices in a clear and legible manner, whether it’s on a POS, card or poster.
Information
Your pizzeria’s opening hours are subject to each province’s regulations. That’s why we invite you to come closer to the structure of the city in which you want to set up your pizzeria.
Depending on what you decide to offer at your pizzeria, there are a few additional parameters:
| If your pizzeria offers: | rules |
|---|---|
| alcoholic beverages | Undertake training to obtain the necessary licenses |
| music | Pay authorization to Sacem (payment of copyright, mandated to freely distribute music) |
| a roof | Get an authorization from the Town Hall |
Opening a Pizzeria: 7 Tips for Success
1 – Develop your concept
Before starting your project, you need to ask yourself several questions to help you develop your concept:
- Will the pizzeria be stationary or mobile (in the van)?
- Will you exclusively provide pizza, or other dishes (salads, pasta, etc.)
- Will you choose to focus on traditional pizza or will you offer personalized creations?
With the number of pizzerias increasing each year, having a clear position will allow you to differentiate yourself and attract new customers.
2 – Study the competition and define your goal
Studying the competition is an important step in preparing for your opening. See what’s happening near you in terms of direct but indirect competition: the number of restaurants nearby, especially pizzerias, menus and offers… This will allow you to better understand the market in which You will be working
You can match this competition study with a more precise definition of your goal. What will your pizza restaurant be aimed at? Students or staff in a hurry between noon and two o’clock? For families or groups of friends? Looking for a more upscale restaurant for Target? It is important to take all of these elements into consideration before you begin.
3 – Choose between suffrage and liberty
The first question to ask yourself when considering your project is the choice between independent and franchise status. Both possibilities offer you advantages, but also have disadvantages: let’s take a look!
| the gain | Harm | |
|---|---|---|
| Independence | More freedom on concept, offers, prices, names, decorations, uniforms… | No support, especially regarding your positioning strategy, communication, choice of suppliers, etc. |
| suffrage | Support during the opening and life of your pizzeria | A little freedom on concept, offers, prices, uniforms… |
4 – Work on your finances
Pizzerias are generally profitable businesses. Do not neglect the choice of your suppliers: quality products at a good price will allow you to offer your customers good pizza while guaranteeing a comfortable production margin.
Take a good look at your financial projections before you start. Conducting a market study will allow you to understand the needs and expectations of your future customers, as well as to estimate the prices you might offer for your pizza.
The receipt of a business plan will help you estimate your various costs (raw materials, equipment, premises or vans…) as well as your estimated business (thanks to the proposed prices and projected demand for your pizza). This research will also allow you to obtain a bank loan supporting the viability of your project.
5 – Choose a strategic location
Now you have two options: set up your pizzeria as a restaurant (possibly with take-out offers), or in a van. Whatever your final decision, the location you choose should be strategic.
Your pizzeria should be accessible and in one way. Target campuses near colleges, high schools, higher education establishments, offices, shopping streets, train stations … See also competition near your location: The presence of other restaurants may allow you to benefit from the attractiveness of customers, but Be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot by settling next to the most famous pizzeria!
If you choose to prepare and sell your pizza to and from a pizza truck outside the city of your residence, you will need to obtain a card allowing the practice of a mobile commercial or craft activity. To obtain it, you will need to submit a request to your Business Formalization Center, as well as a fee of €15. You will also need to request a Temporary Business Permit for Public Domain from your town hall.
6 – Communicate about the launch of your pizzeria
If you choose to open an independent pizzeria, communication needs will be more important than if you open a franchise pizzeria, whose reputation is an added advantage. Communication about openness is important because word of mouth is very useful for promoting your restaurant.
To communicate about the opening of your pizzeria, talk about it near you! Friends, neighbors, small shops nearby… Don’t overlook the power of your personal network! Communication on social networks (LinkedIn, city Facebook groups, etc.), as well as delivery of travelers near your new location, is also welcome!
7 – Build customer loyalty
A loyal customer is one of the keys to a restaurant’s success, especially in cities where word of mouth is very powerful.
To retain your customers, it is important that your customers enjoy visiting your restaurant. A team of pleasant and dynamic servers is a vital asset to making your customers happy. Obviously, the quality, freshness and taste of the dishes you offer will encourage your customers to keep coming back for your pizza.
You can also consider loyalty programs or discounts, for students, on delivery or even click and collect if this is a service you want to incorporate into your project.
What are the other obligations of opening a pizzeria?
You must have civil liability insurance to open your own pizzeria. It protects you in case of damage or accidents like:
- food poisoning;
- the collapse of a customer in the restaurant;
- Material related injury.
You will also need to open a business bank account. This will allow you to specifically separate the income and expenses associated with your pizzeria from your personal transactions, guarantee transparency in the event of a tax audit, and facilitate your cash management.
Ultimately, you’ll need to invest in the right tools to successfully manage your pizzeria on a daily basis. Beyond ingredients and kitchen utensils, you also need to think about cash register software specifically for pizzerias, an accounting tool, a payment terminal like SumUp.
general question
What budget to open a pizzeria?
The budget at the time of launch will depend on the status of the particular independent or franchisee. It is estimated that opening a pizzeria requires a budget of between €30,000 and €70,000.
What is the training for Pizza Maker?
If you want to be trained in pizza making, we recommend that you take a CAP cuisine or follow a special training: French School of Pizzaiolo, Gregory Adele School, CFNP …
How to get money to open a pizzeria?
To supplement your personal contribution, approach banks to avail loans. Crowdfunding platforms can also be a good way to open your own pizzeria. Lastly, the state provides assistance for formation of companies through Samman Loans or ACRE.